改
Character learning workspace

gǎi · to alter, to change, to improve, to remodel

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #1070
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 改

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 改 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

7Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

攵Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 改 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 改

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

gǎiWords pronounced gǎi
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 改 sits in each complete thought.

Nà bǐ qián gǎi biàn le tā de shēng huó.那笔钱改变了他的生活。

That money changed his life.

Source: Tatoeba #1786001 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ de lùn wén hái xū yào gǎi jìn.你的论文还需要改进。

Your essay still needs some improvement.

Source: Tatoeba #10024483 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ yào gǎi shàn yí xià nǐ de yīng yǔ.你要改善一下你的英語。

You have to polish your English.

Source: Tatoeba #338985 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ xià bān le, gǎi tiān liáo.我下班了,改天聊。

I am leaving work, so let's talk another day.

Source: Tatoeba #1515376 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shuō tā néng gǎi zhèng.他说他能改正。

He says he'll correct it.

Source: Tatoeba #8932116 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zuò le diǎn gǎi dòng.我做了点改动。

I made a few modifications.

Source: Tatoeba #7772623 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 改 in context

  1. Say gǎi, then recall the core meaning: to alter, to change, to improve, to remodel.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 改变 (gǎi biàn), meaning “to change”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 改 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.